You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I've been bullied into driving to the Alps again this year, even though I was willing to give it a miss for once. I've got some mates than have never been to Morzine so we're booked up for a week in July.
The problem is, we're still rolling in a Fiat Panda and not a van. It makes the actual travelling part a real ball ache. With bikes on the roof, the boot packed etc. You can't leave it unattended or go for a lie down in the back. We had to sleep in the front seats last year when we arrived late to a campsite and the drive home to Sheffield was ruthless.
We've got some spare time either side of Morzine and we'd like to avoid the 9 hour stint between there and Calais. Everywhere else we've been is further away. We did La Bresse last year on the way down so considering that but there's not much there.
Open to any recommendations that can break up either the outward or return journey. Doesn't have to be world class riding, just somewhere pretty with a campsite will do.
Cannock.
Although it doesn't save much in the way of time 😉
I'd be looking at renting a van and splitting the cost!
I'm sure Cannock is beautiful and we'll get there one day, but not on this trip.
We're not hiring a van. The couple we're going with only have that one week. We've got up to 3 weeks max and want something either side. We're just trying to avoid the mammoth enduro-drives that we used to lap up in the van. Last year the journey home was hell on Earth!
There must be something fun in the flatter part of France, we've just usually bombed right past it.
Never been but have been to the area...
https://www.lacblanc-bikepark.com
I would drive through Luxembourg for cheaper fuel (not as cheap as it used to be though) then Belgium to avoid tolls, but I'm tight.
LacBlanc is really pretty good, nice variety of trails considering only 1 chairlift.
Seems to be loads of great campsites around the Ardennes, and lots of MTB riding too - we're going there late in the summer, bit late to give you much info I suspect, but it looks good.
There is, I just can’t remember the name of the place. it’s just off the motorway an hour south of Calis I think.
I know your pain OP, I’ve done it plenty of times myself, for me the worst part is the 8 hours of *nothing* between Calais and when the Alps appear on the way down and Dover to home on the way back, it almost seems a cruel joke after that massive drive and all the fuss of the crossing to not actually be ‘home’ at all.
This year we’re flying, the kids want a rest from it next year and a beach holiday 🙄 I can’t stand beaches or sitting still, but you can’t win them all.
I don’t think we’ll drive it non-stop again in a hurry, we’re going to take 2 weeks off, spend a few days touring down and touring back.
can’t stand beaches or sitting still, but you can’t win them all.
Me neither - I find the answer is getting up early and going for a cheeky ride or run before they sort themselves out 🙂
Maybe head back via the Black Forest in Germany and the Vosges Mountains in eastern France? Just over the border from one another.
Also - I've always fancied riding around the Fontainbleu area near Paris. Famous with climbers for bouldering, but I think there's a good network of bike trails developing.
Worst part of the trip for me is dover/folkstone to Leeds. So I get the ferry to hull on the way home!
go to La Bresse? thats north east france.
if its good enough for world cup DH...
just looked on TF. la Bresse is a bike park, looks quite small but there is some more riding further south round Urbes and Mollau?
We have three times got air BnB venues halfway that had secure yard to park car with bikes on rack. Plus they were cheap.
Saleve for riding on the way but it’s not far enough from the alps to halve the journey.
Have you stayed in a hotel f1 - cheap and simple but they’ve got big gated car parks and you can normally get a room you can see the car from. I’ve left bikes on cars there never had an issue, just lock them up.
There's loads around the corner from La Bresse around Colmar - Mollau in particular, where they hold the Cannondale Enduro Tour, has some amazing trails. Steep, flowing switchbacky trails that are really top class. Have a look on Strava for any routes with CET in the title in that area and you'll not be disappointed. If I go to France for a riding holiday in the next few years, while I've always been a fan of Morzine and have been a lot, this is where I'd go.
Canyon also used the area to launch the last generation Strive- they used a set of trails by Ammerschwihr, and there's Lac Blanc bike park at the top of the hill.
Yeah Lac blanc is really good. Went a couple of years ago.
No mention of flying ?
I'm going this year, first time ever.
I'm flying there and don't think any other option is even worth considering.
.... don’t think any other option is even worth considering.
Your loss. Wandering around Europe in your own vehicle is amazing. We've been to dozens of places we never would have heard of if we restricted ourselves to flying.
My best trip to the Alps was when my mate drove us there in a 14 year old Renault Megane packed to the rafters with kit. It was slow, and he was too tight to pay for the Autoroute tolls on the way there so we saw a hell of a lot of France we'd never have seen otherwise.
When I was in the Vosges we got there over the course of a week in a clapped out old Porsche. It was one of the most memorable holidays I've ever had!
Wandering around Europe in your own vehicle is amazing.
Exactly this. With people you love. It's all about the journey.
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Hot-fiat: you old softy, I love you too xxx
Smoochy smoochy lister
My best trip to the Alps was when my mate drove us there in a 14 year old Renault Megane packed to the rafters with kit. It was slow, and he was too tight to pay for the Autoroute tolls on the way there so we saw a hell of a lot of France we’d never have seen otherwise.
Consider my cap doffed. I did it once in a 10 year old 1.4 Astra .AC on 30mpg, 70mph, unless there were hills, which there were. AC off, 30mpg at 80 or 40Mpg at 70, unless there were hills, which there were. Both hell. And we took every meter of perfectly smooth, quiet Autoroute we could.
I can't imagine avoiding the Tolls, according to Via Michelin it adds 4 hours and saves £20 once you've paid the extra fuel.
I'm very impatient
We drove the thing up Alpe D'Huez. It obviously overheated.
I drive to Leogang on average 4 times a year, set off at 10am from Wirral, 300 miles to Dover, 4pm ferry, 240 to Luxembourg, arrive at 11pm at a cheap hotel. 450 in the morning to Austria.
It’s a piece of cake in my Vito.
I'm not averse to doing La Bresse again. Lac Blanc looks good. I'll look into the Colmar region. I'll sit down with Google maps over the weekend and fill in some gaps.
Ferme libe and Winterberg are both nearer, but more of a weekend than a week
Just book an ibis budget or f1 hotel on the way down, should cost under £40 a room (sleeps 3), makes the journey nicer. Wheel the bikes into the room.
You people are spoiled if you think you can't drive to the alps without a van! Nonsense!
Anyway I'll add another view for lac blanc - I really enjoyed it. It's not as spectacular as the alps by a long shot but the trails/lift/ambience/cafe were all great when we went.
It's worth checking opening times though - I think it's only open at weekends. They may have changed that though.
Fit a towbar and get a wee trailer with a frame and tarpaulin canopy. I bought one brand new for £400 LIKE THIS. We pack our bikes and camping gear into the trailer, and the suspension of the trailer takes the weight.
I drive a Doblo, so bigger than a Panda, but when driving straight I can't see the trailer in my wing mirrors, only in the rear-view. Essentially it sits fully in the slipstream (even with a Kayak strapped to the top) and makes no difference to overall fuel economy through air resistance. Yes, there is extra weight, but once up to a constant, sensible speed on the Autoroute, this isn't an issue.
It might cost more on the ferry, but you'd be paying for extra height with the roof rack, which you'll no longer need.
Let Gets is a bit closer.
Also – I’ve always fancied riding around the Fontainbleu area near Paris. Famous with climbers for bouldering, but I think there’s a good network of bike trails developing
Hmm. Would love to hear more. I've been to bleau about thirty times and not found much in the way of good legal trails.
Last time I did a brilliant tour of the forest just heading wherever looked good. But...
I was mainly in it for the exercise and wasn't too worried about the occasional sand trap or fire road section.
I was conscious that I was probably illegal and could have got landed with a €6k fine at any point.
Trailers....
but once up to a constant, sensible speed on the Autoroute, this isn’t an issue.
But isn't the problem that that sensible speed is lower than normal cars.....sometimes a lot lower.
Can't help with advice but curious how many of you going in the Panda?
But isn’t the problem that that sensible speed is lower than normal cars…..sometimes a lot lower.
Well, that depends on how fast you normally drive.
We are talking about a balance between speed and comfort. I tend to drive more slowly than the average driver, which I justify by environmental/cost grounds.
Bikes strapped to the back of a 25 year old Audi Coupe once. It blew the top hose climbing that monster hill on the autoroute just before you get to Geneva. Stopped at the next services - they had a range of top hoses!
We had to drop down to 3rd gear in our underpowered T4 going up there. We were in the lorry crawler lane and we were getting overtaken by fully laden wagons 😬. Quite terrifying!
Worst for me was in a really awful 1.4? Fiat Tipo. Two and a half people (Janice was pregnant), full camping kit, two mountainbike, two kayaks and all the associated paraphernalia. Brakes failed on the way down the Col du Galibier. It was thought provoking.